The Epidemiology of Bruxism in Relation to Psychological Factors.

The aim of the present study was to establish the prevalence of sleep/awake bruxism among young students in Transylvania and to correlate the presence of this muscle activity with behavioral variations. This analytical, observational, cohort, cross-sectional, and prospective study involved 308 volunteers aged between 19 and 30 years of different nationalities, all students of the "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Subjects were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire which was structured in five sections. The results obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed separately for sleep bruxism and for awake bruxism. We did not find any statistically significant correlation between awake bruxism or sleep bruxism and age (p = 0.30 and p = 0.37, respectively), sex (p = 0.44 and p = 0.48, respectively), or nationality (p = 0.55 and p = 0.67, respectively). Only a high degree of stress and frustration (p = 0.035 and p = 0.020) was observed in European subjects except for the Romanians and the French, likely related to the difficulties of adapting to the language and lifestyle in Romania. Female sex was statistically significantly associated with an increased level of stress (p = 0.004), duty-related depression (p = 0.006), and duty-related anxiety (p = 0.003). Stress and anxiety can be favorable factors in the appearance of both types of bruxism; however, depression is associated only with awake bruxism.

Plantar Pressure Variations Induced by Experimental Malocclusion-A Pilot Case Series Study.

BACKGROUND: All body systems involved in ensuring a healthy posture (musculoskeletal system, oculomotor, oto-vestibular and occluso-cranial-mandibular) are essential in maintaining postural balance. RESEARCH QUESTION: Does experimental malocclusion in subjects in static position determine variations in plantar pressure? METHODS: Overall, 31 subjects were included in the study. The plantar pressure was evaluated in five different points: lateral and medial heel, midfoot, 1st and 5th metatarsal area. Using a specially designed splint, an artificial malocclusion was induced on the right hemimandibular arch. The pressure was measured at 0 (T0), 15 (T1) and 30 min (T2) after splint application. RESULTS: The right external plantar sensors recorded statistically significant differences in pressure values after 15 min of splint wear (5th metatarsal area, p = 0.05; midfoot, p = 0.04). Important pressure values were also recorded by the left internal plantar sensors (1st metatarsal, p = 0.01; medial heel, p = 0.006), after 30 min of splint wear. CONCLUSIONS: Asymmetrical experimental malocclusion produces early changes in plantar pressure, a proof of compensatory mechanisms induced by secondary postural imbalance.

Is PostureScreen® Mobile app an accurate tool for dentists to evaluate the correlation between malocclusion and posture?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether PostureScreen® Mobile app is a useful, simple tool that is accessible for dentists to evaluate the correlation between malocclusion and posture. METHODS: Twenty-nine subjects underwent static and dynamic dental occlusion examinations and a postural exam with PostureScreen® Mobile app, a photographic method. The subjects were divided into groups depending on their static and dynamic occlusion features. The postural parameters were then compared between these groups. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) for some postural parameters were obtained for Angle Class 1 vs. 2 and 3 and for the passive interference group and active premature contacts group during left lateral movement. There were no statistically significant differences regarding protrusion and right lateral movement. DISCUSSION: Dental occlusion anomalies and posture pathological modifications can be inter-related. PostureScreen® Mobile app might represent a useful tool in the early diagnosis of dental occlusion pathology.

Clinical occlusion analysis versus semi-adjustable articulator and virtual articulator occlusion analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Identifying the optimal method for occlusion analysis by comparing examination sensitivity of the static and dynamic occlusion using three systems: clinical occlusion analysis, semi-adjustable articulator and virtual articulator (3Shape, Denmark) occlusion analysis. METHODS: The occlusion analysis of sixteen patients was performed using the three systems. In order to analyze the number of concordant and discordant points and trajectories, the clinical method was compared to the semi-adjustable articulator and to the computerized method. RESULTS: The greatest correspondence was obtained by comparing the clinical and the articulator methods, having a success rate of 85.25%, versus the clinical and the computerized method with a success rate of 73.25%. The propulsion registered the highest discrepancies: 35% in case of the semi-adjustable articulator comparison and 62% in case of the virtual articulator comparison. CONCLUSIONS: The semi-adjustable articulator was superior in static and dynamic occlusion analysis compared to the virtual articulator. The analysis of the dynamic occlusion is the most problematic due to its dependency on the individual anatomy of the glenoid fossa which cannot be exactly reproduced by any articulator.